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4th Northern Ireland Assembly
3rd Assembly 5th Assembly
Overview
Legislative body Assembly
Jurisdiction Northern Ireland
Meeting place Parliament Buildings,
Stormont
Term 12 May 2011 – 29 March 2016
Election 2011 assembly election
Government Executive of the 4th Assembly
Members 108
Speaker Mitchel McLaughlin
William Hay
until 13 October 2014
First Minister Arlene Foster
Peter Robinson
until 11 January 2016
Arlene Foster (Acting)
until 20 October 2015
— Peter Robinson
until 30 September 2015
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness
John O'Dowd (Acting)
until 31 October 2011
— Martin McGuinness
until 20 September 2011
Sessions
1st 12 May 2011 – 28 June 2011
2nd 12 September 2011 – 3 July 2012
3rd 10 September 2012 – 16 July 2013
4th 9 September 2013 – 1 July 2014
5th 8 September 2014 – 4 July 2015

The fourth Northern Ireland Assembly was the unicameral devolved legislature of Northern Ireland following the 2011 assembly election on 5 May 2011. This iteration of the elected Assembly convened for the first time on 12 May 2011 in Parliament Buildings in Stormont, and ran for a full term.

The election saw 18 Assembly constituencies return six Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs) each. The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), led by Peter Robinson, remained the largest unionist party and the largest overall. Sinn Féin, led by Gerry Adams, remained the largest Irish nationalist party and the second largest overall. As per the Belfast Agreement and the St Andrews Agreement, a power-sharing coalition was then formed with the DUP, Sinn Féin, the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) and the Alliance Party of Northern Ireland. William Hay was elected as Speaker in the first sitting of the Assembly. Following Hay's retirement, Mitchel McLaughlin was elected as the first nationalist Speaker in October 2014.

The UUP, led by Tom Elliott, and the SDLP, led by Margaret Ritchie, secured fewer seats than in the previous assembly. The Alliance Party, led by David Ford, emerged from the election with an increased mandate after securing an additional seat. The four main parties which sat outside of the Northern Ireland Executive and thereby served unofficially in opposition were the Green Party in Northern Ireland, the Traditional Unionist Voice, NI21 and the United Kingdom Independence Party.

More than three quarters of the members of the 3rd Northern Ireland Assembly were re-elected to the 4th: 83 MLAs had been members for all or part of the Assembly's previous term. This included 11 individuals who became MLAs in the previous Assembly by virtue of co-option. Twenty of the MLAs elected in 2011 were women. 25 new MLAs were elected to the Assembly, 23% of the total.

Party strengths

Party Designation May 2011
election
Jul 2015
end
Democratic Unionist Party Unionist 38 38
Sinn Féin Nationalist 29 28
Ulster Unionist Party Unionist 16 13
Social Democratic and Labour Party Nationalist 14 14
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland Other 8 8
Green Party in Northern Ireland Other 1 1
Traditional Unionist Voice Unionist 1 1
Independent Unionist 1 2
NI21 Unionist - 1
UKIP Unionist - 1
Speaker None 0 1
Totals by designation Unionist 56 56
Nationalist 43 42
Other 9 9
None 0 1
Total 108
● = Northern Ireland Executive
Notes

Graphical representation

This is not the actual seating plan.

Leadership

Executive

Opposition

MLAs by party

This is a list of MLAs elected to the Northern Ireland Assembly in the 2011 Northern Ireland Assembly election, sorted by party.

Not to be confused: Paul Girvan (South Antrim) and Paul Givan (Lagan Valley) are different people, although both were co-opted to replace retiring Democratic Unionist members of the last Assembly. Roy Beggs, Jr. (born 1962) is the son of the Ulster Unionist Roy Beggs (born 1936), a former Assembly member for North Antrim and former MP for East Antrim in the British House of Commons. Similarly Mark H. Durkan (b. 1978) is the nephew of the former SDLP leader Mark Durkan (b. 1960), who left the Assembly after his election in 2010 as MP for Foyle.

Party Name Constituency
Democratic Unionist Party (38) Sydney Anderson Upper Bann
Jonathan Bell Strangford
Paula Bradley Belfast North
Thomas Buchanan West Tyrone
Gregory Campbell East Londonderry
Trevor Clarke South Antrim
Jonathan Craig Lagan Valley
Sammy Douglas Belfast East
Gordon Dunne North Down
Alex Easton North Down
Arlene Foster Fermanagh and South Tyrone
Paul Frew North Antrim
Paul Girvan South Antrim
Paul Givan Lagan Valley
Brenda Hale Lagan Valley
Simon Hamilton Strangford
David Hilditch East Antrim
William Humphrey Belfast North
William Irwin Newry and Armagh
Pam Lewis South Antrim
Gordon Lyons East Antrim
Nelson McCausland Belfast North
Ian McCrea Mid Ulster
David McIlveen North Antrim
Michelle McIlveen Strangford
Adrian McQuillan East Londonderry
Gary Middleton †† Foyle
Maurice Morrow Fermanagh and South Tyrone
Stephen Moutray Upper Bann
Robin Newton Belfast East
Emma Pengelly † Belfast South
Edwin Poots Lagan Valley
George Robinson East Londonderry
Peter Robinson Belfast East
Alastair Ross East Antrim
Mervyn Storey North Antrim
Peter Weir North Down
Jim Wells South Down
Sinn Féin (28) Cathal Boylan Newry and Armagh
Michaela Boyle West Tyrone
Megan Fearon Newry and Armagh
Phil Flanagan Fermanagh and South Tyrone
Chris Hazzard South Down
Gerry Kelly Belfast North
Seán Lynch Fermanagh and South Tyrone
Alex Maskey Belfast West
Declan McAleer † West Tyrone
Fra McCann Belfast West
Jennifer McCann Belfast West
Raymond McCartney Foyle
Rosie McCorley † Belfast West
Barry McElduff West Tyrone
Bronwyn McGahan † Fermanagh and South Tyrone
Martin McGuinness Mid Ulster
Daithí McKay North Antrim
Maeve McLaughlin † Foyle
Oliver McMullan East Antrim
Ian Milne † Mid Ulster
Conor Murphy Newry and Armagh
Carál Ní Chuilín Belfast North
Cathal Ó hOisín East Londonderry
Máirtín Ó Muilleoir Belfast South
John O'Dowd Upper Bann
Michelle O'Neill Mid Ulster
Caitríona Ruane South Down
Pat Sheehan Belfast West
Ulster Unionist Party (13) Andy Allen † Belfast East
Roy Beggs, Jr. East Antrim
Adrian Cochrane-Watson † South Antrim
Leslie Cree North Down
Jo-Anne Dobson Upper Bann
Sam Gardiner Upper Bann
Ross Hussey West Tyrone
Danny Kennedy Newry and Armagh
Michael McGimpsey Belfast South
Mike Nesbitt Strangford
Sandra Overend Mid Ulster
Alastair Patterson †† Fermanagh and South Tyrone
Robin Swann North Antrim
Social Democratic and Labour Party (14) Alex Attwood Belfast West
Dominic Bradley Newry and Armagh
John Dallat East Londonderry
Gerard Diver † Foyle
Mark H. Durkan Foyle
Colum Eastwood Foyle
Claire Hanna † Belfast South
Dolores Kelly Upper Bann
Daniel McCrossan † West Tyrone
Patsy McGlone Mid Ulster
Karen McKevitt South Down
Fearghal McKinney † Belfast South
Alban Maginness Belfast North
Seán Rogers † South Down
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland (8) Judith Cochrane Belfast East
Stewart Dickson East Antrim
Stephen Farry North Down
David Ford South Antrim
Anna Lo Belfast South
Trevor Lunn Lagan Valley
Chris Lyttle Belfast East
Kieran McCarthy Strangford
Green Party in Northern Ireland (1) Steven Agnew North Down
Traditional Unionist Voice (1) Jim Allister North Antrim
Independent (2) John McCallister ‡ South Down
Claire Sugden East Londonderry
NI21 (1) Basil McCrea ‡ Lagan Valley
UKIP (1) David McNarry ‡ Strangford
Speaker (1) Mitchel McLaughlin South Antrim

† Co-opted to replace an elected MLA

‡ Changed affiliation during the term

MLAs by constituency

The list is given in alphabetical order by constituency.

Members of the 4th Northern Ireland Assembly
Constituency Name Party
Belfast East Andy Allen † Ulster Unionist Party
Judith Cochrane Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Sammy Douglas Democratic Unionist Party
Chris Lyttle Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Robin Newton Democratic Unionist Party
Peter Robinson Democratic Unionist Party
Belfast North Paula Bradley Democratic Unionist Party
William Humphrey Democratic Unionist Party
Gerry Kelly Sinn Féin
Nelson McCausland Democratic Unionist Party
Alban Maginness Social Democratic and Labour Party
Carál Ní Chuilín Sinn Féin
Belfast South Claire Hanna † Social Democratic and Labour Party
Anna Lo Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Michael McGimpsey Ulster Unionist Party
Fearghal McKinney † Social Democratic and Labour Party
Máirtín Ó Muilleoir Sinn Féin
Emma Pengelly † Democratic Unionist Party
Belfast West Alex Attwood Social Democratic and Labour Party
Fra McCann Sinn Féin
Jennifer McCann Sinn Féin
Alex Maskey Sinn Féin
Paul Maskey Sinn Féin
Pat Sheehan Sinn Féin
East Antrim Roy Beggs, Jr. Ulster Unionist Party
Stewart Dickson Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
David Hilditch Democratic Unionist Party
Gordon Lyons Democratic Unionist Party
Oliver McMullan Sinn Féin
Alastair Ross Democratic Unionist Party
East Londonderry Gregory Campbell Democratic Unionist Party
John Dallat Social Democratic and Labour Party
Adrian McQuillan Democratic Unionist Party
Cathal Ó hOisín Sinn Féin
George Robinson Democratic Unionist Party
Claire Sugden Independent
Fermanagh and South Tyrone Tom Elliott Ulster Unionist Party
Phil Flanagan Sinn Féin
Arlene Foster Democratic Unionist Party
Bronwyn McGahan † Sinn Féin
Seán Lynch Sinn Féin
Maurice Morrow Democratic Unionist Party
Foyle Mark H. Durkan Social Democratic and Labour Party
Colum Eastwood Social Democratic and Labour Party
Gary Middleton †† Democratic Unionist Party
Raymond McCartney Sinn Féín
Maeve McLaughlin † Sinn Féín
Pat Ramsey Social Democratic and Labour Party
Lagan Valley Jonathan Craig Democratic Unionist Party
Paul Givan Democratic Unionist Party
Brenda Hale Democratic Unionist Party
Trevor Lunn Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Basil McCrea ‡ NI21
Edwin Poots Democratic Unionist Party
Mid Ulster Ian McCrea Democratic Unionist Party
Patsy McGlone Social Democratic and Labour Party
Martin McGuinness Sinn Féin
Ian Milne † Sinn Féin
Michelle O'Neill Sinn Féin
Sandra Overend Ulster Unionist Party
Newry and Armagh Cathal Boylan Sinn Féin
Dominic Bradley Social Democratic and Labour Party
Megan Fearon Sinn Féin
William Irwin Democratic Unionist Party
Danny Kennedy Ulster Unionist Party
Conor Murphy †† Sinn Féin
North Antrim Jim Allister Traditional Unionist Voice
Paul Frew Democratic Unionist Party
David McIlveen Democratic Unionist Party
Daithí McKay Sinn Féin
Mervyn Storey Democratic Unionist Party
Robin Swann Ulster Unionist Party
North Down Steven Agnew Green Party in Northern Ireland
Leslie Cree Ulster Unionist Party
Gordon Dunne Democratic Unionist Party
Alex Easton Democratic Unionist Party
Stephen Farry Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Peter Weir Democratic Unionist Party
South Antrim Trevor Clarke Democratic Unionist Party
David Ford Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Paul Girvan Democratic Unionist Party
Adrian Cochrane-Watson † Ulster Unionist Party
Pam Lewis Democratic Unionist Party
Mitchel McLaughlin Speaker
South Down Chris Hazzard Sinn Féin
John McCallister ‡ Independent
Karen McKevitt Social Democratic and Labour Party
Seán Rogers † Social Democratic and Labour Party
Caitríona Ruane Sinn Féin
Jim Wells Democratic Unionist Party
Strangford Jonathan Bell Democratic Unionist Party
Simon Hamilton Democratic Unionist Party
Kieran McCarthy Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
Michelle McIlveen Democratic Unionist Party
David McNarry ‡ UKIP
Mike Nesbitt Ulster Unionist Party
Upper Bann Sydney Anderson Democratic Unionist Party
Jo-Anne Dobson Ulster Unionist Party
Sam Gardiner Ulster Unionist Party
Dolores Kelly Social Democratic and Labour Party
Stephen Moutray Democratic Unionist Party
John O'Dowd Sinn Féin
West Tyrone Michaela Boyle Sinn Féin
Thomas Buchanan Democratic Unionist Party
Ross Hussey Ulster Unionist Party
Declan McAleer † Sinn Féin
Daniel McCrossan † Social Democratic and Labour Party
Barry McElduff Sinn Féin

† Co-opted to replace an elected MLA ‡ Changed affiliation during the term

New members elected in May 2011

Twenty-five members of the third Assembly who were sitting at its dissolution on 24 March 2011 were succeeded by new members after the election of 5 May 2011. Seventeen sitting members did not present themselves for re-election and another eight were defeated at the polls. One re-elected member had been elected with a different affiliation in 2007.

The numbers indicate the percentage of votes each member received in the first round of counting under the Single Transferable Vote in the 2011 election, and the round which decided his or her election or defeat.

This is a sortable table arranged alphabetically by the new member's surname. In some constituencies (Foyle, West Tyrone and Fermanagh & South Tyrone) where it is not possible to couple a single outgoing member by party with a single successor, the incoming members are arranged alphabetically (so the second one may be out of alphabetic order with the rest of the table) and the outgoing members are arranged arbitrarily.

Outgoing member(s) Party 1st
pref
Round
Constituency
New Member(s)
Party 1st
pref
Round
Wilson, BrianBrian Wilson (retiring) Green Party in N. Ireland North Down Agnew, StevenSteven Agnew Green 7.9% 11
O'Loan, DeclanDeclan O'Loan SDLP 9.1% 9 North Antrim Allister, JimJim Allister Trad. U. Voice 10.1% 9
McGill, ClaireClaire McGill (retiring) Sinn Féin West Tyrone Boyle, MichaelaMichaela Boyle Sinn Féin 12.9% 4
Cobain, FredFred Cobain Ulster Unionist 8.2% 7 Belfast North Bradley, PaulaPaula Bradley DUP 10.4% 6
Bresland, AllanAllan Bresland
Deeny, KieranKieran Deeny (retiring)
Democratic Unionist
Independent
10.3%
0
West Tyrone Byrne, JoeJoe Byrne
Hussey, RossRoss Hussey
SDLP
UUP
8.5%
10.4%
5
Purvis, DawnDawn Purvis Ind. (elected as Prog. U.) 5.3% 11 Belfast East Cochrane, JudithJudith Cochrane Alliance 13.4% 7
Empey, RegReg Empey (retiring)
Lord Empey
Ulster Unionist Belfast East Copeland, MichaelMichael Copeland UUP 6.8% 11
Neeson, SeánSeán Neeson (retiring) Alliance East Antrim Dickson, StewartStewart Dickson Alliance 10.0% 9
Savage, GeorgeGeorge Savage (retiring) Ulster Unionist Upper Bann Dobson, Jo-AnneJo-Anne Dobson UUP 7.9% 7
Browne, WallaceWallace Browne (retiring)
Baron Browne of Belmont
Democratic Unionist Belfast East Douglas, SammySammy Douglas DUP 8.3% 11
McFarland, AlanAlan McFarland Ind. (elected as UUP) 6.7% 9 North Down Dunne, GordonGordon Dunne DUP 13.3% 2
Callaghan, PólPól Callaghan
[replaced Mark Durkan, MP]
Mary Bradley (retiring)
SDLP 6.8%
4
Foyle Durkan, Mark H.Mark H. Durkan
Colum Eastwood
SDLP 12.8%
7.6%
4
7
Gallagher, TommyTommy Gallagher SDLP
9.6% 6 Fermanagh &
South Tyrone
Flanagan, PhilPhil Flanagan Sinn Féin 10.6% 6
McHugh, GerryGerry McHugh (retiring) Ind. (elected as SF) Fermanagh &
South Tyrone
Lynch, SeánSeán Lynch Sinn Féin 10.7% 6
Butler, PaulPaul Butler (retiring) Sinn Féin Lagan Valley Hale, BrendaBrenda Hale DUP 8.2% 7
Burns, ThomasThomas Burns SDLP 10.6% 0 South Antrim Lewis, PamPam Lewis DUP 8.9% 4
Paisley, IanIan Paisley, PC (retiring)
Lord Bannside
Democratic Unionist North Antrim McIlveen, DavidDavid McIlveen DUP 8.1% 8
Bradley, P.J.P.J. Bradley (retiring) SDLP South Down McKevitt, KarenKaren McKevitt SDLP 9.0% 9
Robinson, KenKen Robinson (retiring) Ulster Unionist East Antrim McMullan, OliverOliver McMullan Sinn Féin 8.2% 10
Gibson, SimpsonSimpson Gibson (retiring)
[replaced Jim Shannon]
Democratic Unionist Strangford Nesbitt, MikeMike Nesbitt UUP 11.0% 6
Leonard, BillyBilly Leonard (retiring)
[replaced Francie Brolly]
Sinn Féin (suspended) East Londonderry O'Hoison CathalCathal Ó hOisín Sinn Féin 13.5% 6
Armstrong, BillyBilly Armstrong (retiring) Ulster Unionist Mid Ulster Overend, SandraSandra Overend UUP 10.3% 6
Coulter, RobertRobert Coulter (retiring) Ulster Unionist North Antrim Swann, RobinRobin Swann UUP 6.2% 9

Member returning with a different affiliation

David McClarty, originally elected from East Londonderry as an Ulster Unionist, although not re-nominated by the UUP in 2011, stood successfully for re-election as an independent. This reduced the UUP's strength from 2007, while keeping independent strength in the Assembly at one (as Kieran Deeny, the retiring independent member, was not succeeded in West Tyrone by another independent). McClarty decided not to re-join the UUP after his re-election.

Changes since the election

† Co-options

Date co-opted Constituency Party Outgoing Co-optee Reason
1 April 2012 South Down SDLP Margaret Ritchie Seán Rogers Margaret Ritchie resigned to concentrate on her role as a Member of Parliament.
13 April 2012 South Down Sinn Féin Willie Clarke Chris Hazzard Willie Clarke resigned to concentrate on his role as a Down District Councillor.
14 June 2012 Foyle Sinn Féin Martina Anderson Maeve McLaughlin Martina Anderson resigned after becoming a member of the European Parliament.
7 July 2012 Newry and Armagh Sinn Féin Conor Murphy Megan Fearon Conor Murphy resigned to concentrate on his role as a Member of Parliament.
7 July 2012 West Tyrone Sinn Féin Pat Doherty Declan McAleer Pat Doherty resigned to concentrate on his role as a Member of Parliament.
7 July 2012 Belfast West Sinn Féin Paul Maskey Rosie McCorley Paul Maskey resigned to concentrate on his role as a Member of Parliament.
7 July 2012 Fermanagh and South Tyrone Sinn Féin Michelle Gildernew Bronwyn McGahan Michelle Gildernew resigned to concentrate on his role as a Member of Parliament.
8 April 2013 Mid Ulster Sinn Féin Francie Molloy Ian Milne Francie Molloy resigned to concentrate on his role as a Member of Parliament.
12 September 2013 Belfast South SDLP Conall McDevitt Fearghal McKinney Conall McDevitt resigned.
6 May 2014 East Londonderry Ind U David McClarty Claire Sugden David McClarty died.
20 October 2014 Foyle DUP William Hay Maurice Devenney William Hay resigned.
22 October 2014 Belfast South Sinn Féin Alex Maskey Máirtín Ó Muilleoir Alex Maskey resigned in order to be transferred to Belfast West.
3 November 2014 Belfast West Sinn Féin Sue Ramsey Alex Maskey Sue Ramsey resigned.
13 April 2015 Foyle DUP Maurice Devenney Gary Middleton Maurice Devenney resigned.
8 June 2015 Newry and Armagh Sinn Féin Mickey Brady Conor Murphy Mickey Brady was elected as Member of Parliament for Newry and Armagh in the 2015 general election.
29 June 2015 South Antrim UUP Danny Kinahan Adrian Cochrane-Watson Danny Kinahan was elected as Member of Parliament for South Antrim in the 2015 general election.
29 June 2015 Fermanagh and South Tyrone UUP Tom Elliott Neil Somerville Tom Elliott was elected as Member of Parliament for Fermanagh and South Tyrone in the 2015 general election.
29 June 2015 Belfast South SDLP Alasdair McDonnell Claire Hanna Alasdair McDonnell resigned to concentrate on his role as a Member of Parliament.
19 August 2015 East Antrim DUP Sammy Wilson Gordon Lyons Sammy Wilson resigned to concentrate on his role as a Member of Parliament.
15 September 2015 Belfast East UUP Michael Copeland Andy Allen Michael Copeland resigned.
28 September 2015 Belfast South DUP Jimmy Spratt Emma Pengelly Jimmy Spratt resigned.
7 January 2016 Foyle SDLP Pat Ramsey Gerard Diver Pat Ramsey resigned.
7 January 2016 West Tyrone SDLP Joe Byrne Daniel McCrossan Joe Byrne resigned.
27 January 2016 Fermanagh and South Tyrone UUP Neil Somerville Alastair Patterson Neil Somerville resigned.

‡ Changes in affiliation

Date Constituency Name Previous affiliation New affiliation Circumstance
12 May 2011 Foyle William Hay DUP Speaker William Hay elected Speaker of the Assembly at its first sitting.
27 January 2012 Strangford David McNarry UUP Ind U David McNarry suspended from the UUP for nine months after an investigation by the party.
4 October 2012 Strangford David McNarry Ind U UKIP David McNarry joined UKIP becoming the party's first Northern Ireland MLA.
14 February 2013 South Down John McCallister UUP Ind U John McCallister resigned from the UUP after it formed an electoral pact with the DUP.
15 February 2013 Lagan Valley Basil McCrea UUP Ind U Basil McCrea resigned from the UUP after it formed an electoral pact with the DUP.
6 June 2013 South Down John McCallister Ind U NI21 John McCallister along with McCrea established a new political party.
6 June 2013 Lagan Valley Basil McCrea Ind U NI21 Basil McCrea along with McCallister established a new political party.
3 July 2014 South Down John McCallister NI21 Ind U John McCallister resigns from NI21 over differences with the party leadership regarding an investigation into wrongdoing by party leader, Basil McCrea.
12 January 2015 South Antrim Mitchel McLaughlin Sinn Féin Speaker Mitchel McLaughlin elected Speaker of the Assembly following the retirement of William Hay.

See also

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